I wrote him.  If nothing else it made me feel better.  Also I noticed a lot of posters on Cleveland.bomb sticking up for the city.

Do you guys mind sharing your letters?

Mister Greenberg,

 

I am a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, one of the cities you have in

you're "Don't Go There: The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the

Must-Miss Places of the World".  I'll try to keep all personal attacks

aside as I comprehend you're motive is selling books.

 

First let me give you my background.  I'm 29 years old, have a masters

in Architecture, am married to a professional photographer, own a

house, make an above average salary, am white, and grew up in the

suburbs.  I moved to Cleveland five years ago and have fallen in love

with this city against all odds.  The bad rap given to Cleveland is

generally given by people that have left this county or people who

want to make an easy buck writing sensationalist stories. 

 

Cleveland's crime has been greatly reduced this year by an initiative

set forth by our current Mayor to break down on violent crimes.  The economy

is rough as the history of manufacturing leaving is

all too well known and we are a victim of that.  That being said we

are making great strides in Medicine, the World Renowned Cleveland

Clinic is here, and biotech enterprises...   

 

"Twenty health care startups in the Minneapolis area had attracted

$289.9 million by Sept. 30 this year, while 26 Cleveland-area

companies had attracted $152.4 million, according to the BioEnterprise

Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report for the third quarter."

 

Also we are feeling the credit crisis as is everybody else, but

many new housing units have come on the market in the last

couple of years in the downtown region alone.  Office vacancies remain

low and before the credit crisis multiple

new office buildings were in the advanced planning stages.

 

I'm spouting off factoids about the good parts of our city, and am a

realist when it comes to our problems.  But guess what we are moving

forward, we are not the same downtrodden city of the past.  Books like

yours focus on our negatives and make people miss the positives.  I

realize that there has to be some city that is the butt of all jokes

but I assure you we are not that city any more.

 

Below I've compiled a not exhaustive list of great amenities you

shouldn't miss here in Cleveland.  If you would love to come back to

this city I love, I would be delighted to take you on a tour of some

of the great things we have.  If not, as I understand that would

contradict your book, than I'm sorry that you're "must miss" made you

miss a must see city.

 

 

I left the list off as I posted one similar on the .bomb website and you all know the things I'm talking about.  It was extensive though.

 

Great response. You made some great points.

KJP, your editing was no better than the headline writer.  The implication from your post is that Sarah Crump labeled Cleveland as "must miss", which was far from true.

 

Hey genius, my biggest gripe was with the headline writer (as I noted in my message -- would you like me to retype it for you using smaller, more understandable words?). The PD has their own headline writers/editors. Sarah Crump most likely didn't write the headline. And her article wasn't THAT bad, though I question why this article was even in the paper. Did we suddenly run out of news?

More doom and gloom from the daily rag...

 

You tell us: What can save Cleveland in the wake of National City?

Posted by Plain Dealer staff November 02, 2008 17:36PM

Categories: Real Time News

Post edited 9-4-09 to comply with terms of use

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/11/your_turn_what_can_save_clevel.html

 

My favorite reply so far (from a UO'er?):

Posted by krazyk47 on 11/02/08 at 6:54PM

I think the city is doing just fine. Our only real problem is the Pee Dee stoking suburban paranoia to sell newspapers.

 

 

 

In the interest of fairness, I'd like to point out an article that didn't resort to the usual Cleveland cliches of poverty, crime, corruption, etc. when discussing taxation, corporations, and the city of Cleveland's leadership.  Maybe Ms Jarboe could teach her fellow reporters a thing or two about writing.

 

Cleveland considers waiving taxes on stock options to attract companies

Posted by Michelle Jarboe/Plain Dealer Reporter November 02, 2008 04:50AM

 

Talks between business leaders and Cleveland officials might result in lower taxes for corporate executives - a change that supporters say would help bring and retain companies here.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/11/cleveland_considers_waiving_ta.html

 

This is just lazy journalism isn't it?  They're running an article that nobody had to put any time or research into, just reprint people's comments.  Is this a respectable newspaper?  I do not get the newspaper just read the online version, was this on the front page of the paper?  I will admit they did make it seem a lot more positive this time.

No, you say below that the headlines reinforce the negativity, which implies that the article was negative.  Then you point out ONE paragraph that was positive which doesn't indicate that Sarah Crump wrote a positive article.  Hopefully you can learn these journalistic techniques and realize your dream of writing for a real newspaper before they all go out of business!  Good luck!

 

 

Hey genius, my biggest gripe was with the headline writer (as I noted in my message -- would you like me to retype it for you using smaller, more understandable words?). The PD has their own headline writers/editors. Sarah Crump most likely didn't write the headline. And her article wasn't THAT bad, though I question why this article was even in the paper. Did we suddenly run out of news?

 

I swear to God, this is getting f*cking ridiculous. This is making me so angry!!!!!!!!!

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/10/cleveland_deemed_a_mustmiss_de.html

 

Cleveland deemed a 'must-miss' destination

Posted by Sarah Crump/Plain Dealer Reporter October 31, 2008 22:59PM

 

Headlines get read more than articles do, and reinforce the negativity. Perhaps the PD should adhere to this paragraph in this story.....

 

Enough, already. It's time the city quit being an urban punching bag, said Dennis Roche, president of Positively Cleveland. "We're fed up with these false characterizations of our city. They are ill-informed and laughable."

 

To me, "Enough, already" should be the name of a campaign against unwarranted or unnecessarily negative press and publicity about our beloved city. "Move On" was the name of a campaign against Republican preoccupation with the Clinton sex scandal that grew. "Enough, already" should be our campaign.

Phillip Morris at it again, what is with this guy does he have some sort of personal vendetta against Cleveland...

 

Phillip Morris: It's a new reality in Washington; in Cleveland, not yet

by Phillip Morris/Plain Dealer Columnist Tuesday November 11, 2008, 4:31 AM

Did we really just do that? Seriously!

 

There is no use in pretending that adjustments will not be required. We're living a Rip Van Winkle moment.

 

A tall, skinny, African-American man will soon be walking his dog on the White House lawn and waving from the steps of Air Force One. That's real stuff.

 

So how does America pinch itself, and align a dream with a reality?

 

Barack Obama isn't David Palmer. This isn't the television show "24." Obama is president-elect of the United States. Like all presidents, of course, he will soon be forced to deliver or watch the bloom fall off the rose.

 

But the political, cultural, and emotional shockwaves his election has triggered will take years to fully understand. Things no longer are so black and white.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/morris/index.ssf/2008/11/phillip_morris_its_a_new_reali.html

 

I don't even understand what his point is

Hard-hit places like Cleveland will die if they hold their breath and trust that the Calvary is coming. It's not.

 

So you mean this isn't coming?

 

Maybe he was holding his breath for this instead?

 

Do they not have copy editors at the PD?

 

And is his point that we somehow need a white mayor to save Cleveland, cuz I don't understand him at all?

 

I don't even understand what his point is

 

I wasn't really sure where he was going with that article either

 

"In recent weeks, we've lost National City Bank and will soon likely lose Eaton Corporation."

 

I just wish that the self-flagellators would stop lumping the rest of Cleveland with them. *I* didn't run National City into the ground, nor did I (aside from my tax dollars being used as bailout funds) sell them to PNC. *I* had nothing to do with Eaton's ridiculous demands for their proposed HQ campus in the Flats, nor did I have any say-so into them relocating to Chagrin Highlands. He's another bubblehead who looks around, cherrypicks a few examples and chucks out a token column every other week. But what do I know... I'm sure he's helping boost PD subscriptions by leaps and bounds  :evil:

The fact that this bullshit has made it into my UrbanOhio daily reading upsets me.

I don't even understand what his point is

 

I thought it was pretty clear: We are devoid of strong leadership in this city. We need a transformational leader, and it sounds like he has someone with potential in mind who is not black. Or at least he's saying we shouldn't limit that search to the black community. If the city is going to rise to what it can be, we need to not worry about the color of that person's skin.

 

I knew I would log on here today to people whining about it, and calling it anti-Cleveland. I'll tell you how I felt, though: Inspired.

 

Over coffee this morning, I started to think about what can I do directly to make my city better. My neighborhood. My block.

 

"In recent weeks, we've lost National City Bank and will soon likely lose Eaton Corporation."

 

I just wish that the self-flagellators would stop lumping the rest of Cleveland with them. *I* didn't run National City into the ground, nor did I (aside from my tax dollars being used as bailout funds) sell them to PNC. *I* had nothing to do with Eaton's ridiculous demands for their proposed HQ campus in the Flats, nor did I have any say-so into them relocating to Chagrin Highlands. He's another bubblehead who looks around, cherrypicks a few examples and chucks out a token column every other week. But what do I know... I'm sure he's helping boost PD subscriptions by leaps and bounds

 

You didn't run it into the ground. You didn't sell it. But you will feel the loss, because I know you care about this city.

 

When we stop talking about this city's troubles as our troubles, that's when we've given up.

 

 

More recent conventional wisdom has held that a white politician will never again be elected mayor of Cleveland.

 

Perhaps, we will soon see the end of conventional wisdom.

 

Effective leadership knows no color.

 

Dying cities can no more afford the suffocating comfort of race -- or racism -- than can a nation.

 

"...I'm Joe Cimperman, and I approve this message"

 

"...I'm Joe Cimperman, and I approve this message"

 

Yep. Throw in Ronayne as well.

 

With the good crime stats, I don't know if Jackson is as vulnerable as he appeared to be a year ago.

Other than murder rates, I was under the impression crime was up in Cleveland. 

 

I thought it was pretty clear: We are devoid of strong leadership in this city. We need a transformational leader, and it sounds like he has someone with potential in mind who is not black. Or at least he's saying we shouldn't limit that search to the black community. If the city is going to rise to what it can be, we need to not worry about the color of that person's skin.

 

I knew I would log on here today to people whining about it, and calling it anti-Cleveland. I'll tell you how I felt, though: Inspired.

 

Over coffee this morning, I started to think about what can I do directly to make my city better. My neighborhood. My block.

 

AMN, that sort of what I took from it although I would say, "Morris feels as though we are devoid of strong leadership in this city and that we need a transformational leader."

 

This is a time for us all to take a cue from the president and do something.  Do not complain and say "they should do xxxx" become apart of the solution and say, "today I will do xxx" for my block, neighborhood and city.

Other than murder rates, I was under the impression crime was up in Cleveland. 

 

Based on what, might I ask?

 

THIS IS NOT AIMED AT YOU TBideon, but perception is a HUGE part of Cleveland's image problem.  Not on a national level but a local and regional level.

"When we stop talking about this city's troubles as our troubles, that's when we've given up."

 

There's talking about things productively, and then there's the incessant Chicken Little handwringing that's been Morris' (and far too many of the Cleveland media) M.O. for how long - and what does that accomplish? Many of the problems Morris points out aren't isolated to Cleveland but you'd never know that from his article. Sorry, I've been doing the whole "make my block/neighborhood/city better" thing for quite some time and I don't need some half-@ssed backhanded "call to action" column to do it.

 

As far as "you will feel the loss, because I know you care about this city" - well, with all due respect - duh. :wtf: Even people who couldn't give a sh!t will feel the loss.

^My perception comes from a few things.  First, I could have sworn I read some stats on cleveland.com that repeated my comment - if I have some time I might look into the site's archives.  Second, I read something in the PD/cleveland.com about crime being on the rise in Midtown specifically.  Third, my friend's great aunt just moved from Slavic Village (a Cleveland neighborhood) to Euclid (a Cleveland suburb), and he told me some heartbreaking and downright scary stories about her daily life there.  Fourth, I would think that that since foreclosures and job losses are so rampant in today's economic climate, crime would unfortunately tend to rise alongside.

 

 

Tbideon, you said the PD and cleveland.com, like they are credible sources.  Good one.  LMAO!  lol  lol  I can't breathe. 

Tbideon, you said the PD and cleveland.com, like they are credible sources.  Good one.  LMAO!  lol  lol  I can't breathe. 

 

What sources would you quote?

There's talking about things productively, and then there's the incessant Chicken Little handwringing that's been Morris' (and far too many of the Cleveland media) M.O. for how long - and what does that accomplish?

 

I didn't see this as incessant handwringing. I saw this as an attempt to start a conversation about troubled times need inspired leadership, and we need to put aside the racial aspect of Cleveland politics and find that inspired leadership anywhere we can get it.

 

Sorry, I've been doing the whole "make my block/neighborhood/city better" thing for quite some time and I don't need some half-@ssed backhanded "call to action" column to do it.

 

I've been doing the traditional things for a long time, too. I leave my porch light on at night. I know all my neighbors. We look out for each other. I shovel two elderly neighbors' walkways and sidewalks in the winter. But none of this is innovative. It should be the baseline. I went to a 10,000 little ideas event ready for some great brainstorming and left disappointed.

 

As far as "you will feel the loss, because I know you care about this city" - well, with all due respect - duh. :wtf: Even people who couldn't give a sh!t will feel the loss.

 

My point was, as Morris said, that WE'VE lost this bank. It's not prescribing fault. It's a fact.

One doesn't need stats to percieve that day to day life in some of the east side hotspots can be horrific.  But it's never been as bad as Detroit, and by some accounts, Chicago is now worse.  Cincy had rioting 10 years ago, so these issues are by no means unique.  Regarding midtown, I lived there last year, and several neighbors who had been there awhile all agreed that it had turned for the worse recently.  Most of them have moved to the near west side.

 

Leadership here is a mess, moreso than most big cities.  I think Morris is right about that, although I don't like his attitude generally.  All this dithering on the Med Mart is hurting our position, there have been numerous awful land deals, there is some evidence the city intentionally ruined the old Flats, and no one has been able to assert themselves to ensure quality urban development. 

 

One clear proof of how bad our leadership has been is the incomparable destruction of building stock.  Someone needs to tell the clinic NO on tearing down the medical arts bldg, and someone needs to tell CVS and Rite Aid this isn't Westlake and they must build accordingly.  Like the t-shirt says, Defend Cleveland.   

I would just like to see some clear evidence, either way, of which is right. If the PD is wrong in saying that crime is on the rise or whatever, then show me evidence otherwise.

One doesn't need stats to perceive that day to day life in some of the east side hotspots can be horrific.  But it's never been as bad as Detroit, and by some accounts, Chicago is now worse.  Cincy had rioting 10 years ago, so these issues are by no means unique.  Regarding midtown, I lived there last year, and several neighbors who had been there awhile all agreed that it had turned for the worse recently.  Most of them have moved to the near west side.   

327 as an Eastsider, I disagree about crime, but I can't speak for midtown.  I think we'll all agree, that real or perceived crime will be viewed differently by each of us.

 

One clear proof of how bad our leadership has been is the incomparable destruction of building stock.  Someone needs to tell the clinic NO on tearing down the medical arts bldg, and someone needs to tell CVS and Rite Aid this isn't Westlake and they must build accordingly.  Like the shirt says, Defend Cleveland.   

The building teardown did not begin with the Jackson, Campbell or White adminstrations.  We'll need to go back to Celebrezze, Locher and Stokes. 

 

IIRC, that has been written in the Law with the ECTP about new building and tear downs.  KJP, can speak further but I think it's being looked into being expanded on other streets.  Also, its been mentioned here on UO, so if you do a search you'll find that information

 

And yes the Clinic does need to be aware of this, however, WE, YES WE, need to alert and write/email/fax/visit the city councilman in which the Clinic sits, your city councilman along with the Mayor and County officials.

 

As obama said, "be the change you want".

MTS, good points.  The problems began long ago.  I think the complaints about leadership are self-proven if we all have to keep badgering them like "hello, McFly!!!" on really obvious issues.

From wkyc.com:

 

http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=100746&catid=45

 

CLEVELAND -- The Plain Dealer will cut more jobs by the end of the year because of the struggling economy.

 

Ohio's largest newspaper reported today that it has increased cuts from 38 to 50 employees, or 21 percent of its unionized newsroom jobs.

 

The paper earlier offered employee buyouts. The Plain Dealer will begin layoffs if 50 employees do not volunteer to leave.

 

The Plain Dealer announced the cuts Oct. 7, citing poor advertising revenue and a struggling newspaper industry.

 

There are 299 employees in the newsroom, and 238 of them represented by the Northeast Ohio Newspaper Guild. The jobs to be eliminated include reporters, copy editors, photographers, artists and page designers.

 

The Plain Dealer is owned by Advance Publications Inc. and has a daily circulation of about 345,000.

 

Until they make cuts AT THE TOP the paper will continue to flounder!

 

Now I wonder if THIS will be on the PD's front page/Cleveland.com's home page.

 

I'm sure this will garner more "ignorant" comments than someone on the "Eastside" committing a crime!

I just received a phone call from a sales person at the PD asking me to expand my service from Sunday to 7 days. Something about a great special they have going on. I don't know. I wouldn't let him finish. I started giving the poor guy the business about how I woulod be glad to but the paper if they would stop shoving the one-sided negative crap down our throats. After another minute or so, he finally said, "Ok."

 

And that was that.

"This city is so beautiful," said Walter Casas, who hopes to import the family's Café Volio through Cleveland. "What a wonderful time to be here."

 

An excellent quote to hear after seeing the front page this morning and refusing to purchase it.

"This city is so beautiful," said Walter Casas, who hopes to import the family's Café Volio through Cleveland. "What a wonderful time to be here."

 

An excellent quote to hear after seeing the front page this morning and refusing to purchase it.

 

Be thankful for not purchasing it W28.  In addition to the front page you would have found the forum section whose main headline taking up half the page read in big bold type "Cleveland is Falling Apart."  I saw that, I pulled out the sports page, walked over to the trash can and inserted the paper.  I went from a full subscription, to a 3 day a week, to a sunday, to canceling my subscription and just buying the paper on occasional sundays.  Now I think I can just get my sports info from cleveland.crap.  I really don't think I'll ever give another nickel to that worthless piece of crap of a paper company.

^^ I can't get over that Forum headline today...just unbelievable. The editor's note had a nice touch too; it said that downtown was in the worst shape it's ever been in Cleveland's 212 year history. I guess the thousands of people that choose to live downtown must all be idiots.

Downtown is in the worst shape it has ever been? Are they serious? I'm in my twenties, and I remember taking the rapid downtown in the eighties, and even as kid I remember how dead and deserted downtown was. I think downtown is significantly better than twenty years ago. These kind of comments are the reason why I have not read the PD in over two months. I don't want to sound elitist or arrogant, but the PD appeals to ignorant people who want to believe Cleveland is the worst place on Earth. How can downtown be in such bad shape with the Euclid Corridor, East 4th, The Avenue District, Playhouse Square, the Warehouse District, Gateway, and many other proposed projects. I know retail doesn't exist downtown, but c'mon.

There is a thread somewhere on media representation in Cleveland somewhere that might be more appropriate to this conversation, but eh, just thought I would share this quickly ... something that I found interesting.

 

Doing a fellowship in Germany and some friends invited me to grab a drink in Berlin, and someone's parents were visiting from Cleveland (lived in Shaker Square for many, many years ... now in Kirtland for maybe 15 or 20). These people were wealthy, educated, Baby Boomer exurbanites, so I held back my "the only thing wrong with Cleveland is the Plain Dealer and Carl Monday" comments initially. But I was surprised when they brought it up ... basically they told me that they would never, ever buy the Plain Dealer again, as they were tired of both "sky is falling" coverage and, quote, "seven-part-series on living with cancer ... seriously, who wants to read that fluffy-duffy stuff over and over?" endquote. It was actually sad, as they said that the PD used to be their way of staying connected to the city and what was happening there. Now, their extent of connection is Cool Cleveland and the occasional Free Times.

 

My point,  it's not just Urban Ohioers who are disgusted with this kind of exploitative and often flat coverage ... it seems to be stretching across a lot of demographics and geographic distances. How is this not showing up in focus groups?!

 

BTW, what was the headline? I wasn't around to see it.

 

 

There is a thread somewhere on media representation in Cleveland somewhere that might be more appropriate to this conversation, but eh, just thought I would share this quickly ... something that I found interesting.

 

Doing a fellowship in Germany and some friends invited me to grab a drink in Berlin, and someone's parents were visiting from Cleveland (lived in Shaker Square for many, many years ... now in Kirtland for maybe 15 or 20). These people were wealthy, educated, Baby Boomer exurbanites, so I held back my "the only thing wrong with Cleveland is the Plain Dealer and Carl Monday" comments initially. But I was surprised when they brought it up ... basically they told me that they would never, ever buy the Plain Dealer again, as they were tired of both "sky is falling" coverage and, quote, "seven-part-series on living with cancer ... seriously, who wants to read that fluffy-duffy stuff over and over?" endquote. It was actually sad, as they said that the PD used to be their way of staying connected to the city and what was happening there. Now, their extent of connection is Cool Cleveland and the occasional Free Times.

 

My point,  it's not just Urban Ohioers who are disgusted with this kind of exploitative and often flat coverage ... it seems to be stretching across a lot of demographics and geographic distances. How is this not showing up in focus groups?!

 

BTW, what was the headline? I wasn't around to see it.

 

 

 

A the Plain Dealer is not the Cleveland Plain Dealer so those in focus groups are from the outer region.  They believe everything that is written is the gospel, since the Plain Dealer rarely has anything negative to say about the surrounding 'burbs/exurbs.

 

Examples, the PD never condemn Eaten or the Jewish Federation for their ridiculous moves to the Eastern Burbs and in the same breath, any development that is started in the city starts with a "negative" tone.

 

There is no in depth - non slanted good or bad - coverage of city neighborhoods or neighborhood reporters/correspondents.

Last night I was reading some of the cleveland.com comments regarding the article where Pittsburgh was being acclaimed for reinventing itself.  Though I didn't find that article insulting in the least bit, since Pittsubrgh really has made great strides during the last few decades in its education (most important) and redevelopments, I then read some of the most bleak and sad comments afterwards that even bummed me (a pretty big Cleveland optimist) out.  And that whole "Last one who leave turns out the lights" comment - uch, just heartbreaking everytime

I don't understand this idea that everything is okay in Pittsburgh. I went to Pitt and my wife's family is from Pittsburgh, yes, they have made some strides, but job growth and population loss is still a problem. I think Pittsburgh is the second oldest metro in the country. My wife got her masters from Pitt, and just about every one of her classmates left the region. Downtown feels dense, but after five there really is nothing going on. I'm not trying to knock Pittsburgh, the city has made some improvements. However, they still face the same problems of attracting young professionals and decent-paying jobs. They still have a declining metro population. When are we going to start looking at Cleveland in the same light? I'm well aware of the problems in Cleveland. However, the region has cultivated a great medical industry that has produced thousands of jobs. In a short time, Cleveland went from a non-player in the biomedical industry, to directly competing with Minneapolis for venture capital. I think Cleveland is slowly reinventing itself.

The article wasn't saying everything is great in Pittsburgh - it was just focusing on the positives

Sorry - I didn't read it. After spending several years at Pitt, and visiting family almost once a month, I've gotten a good feel for the city.  I just feel the Clevelanders look at Pittsburgh with such envy, as if nothing has happened in Cleveland over the last 15 years. As for ceveland.com, those idiots will always make negative comments like "last one turn the lights out." Very rarely do you find an insightful comment on cleveland.com. I think we can be optimist about the city. Things always change. Nothing stays the same. cleveland still has great assets.

It's funny, people from Pittsburgh think the situation is the complete opposite.  Grass is always greener I suppose.  Or is it less brown?

w28th -

 

I agree. My brother-in-law loves Cleveland and always complains about Pittsburgh.

W28th said:

An excellent quote to hear after seeing the front page this morning and refusing to purchase it.

 

---------------------------------

I don't quite understand why folks are so frustrated by the PD for running a story comparing CLV to PGH and offering some insights into what CLV can be learn from PGH.  Are we still stuck in the 70's?  I think the comparison is very apt given the similar cultural and economic histories of the two cities. 

 

Here's the front page in case you missed it:

www.cleveland.com/frontpage/wide/index.ssf?sunday.html

 

Here's one single measure of PGH being better than CLV

http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2008/pds-reporting-on-the-economy

 

 

It's not that I have a problem with the pd comparing the 2 cities persay, I am just sick and tired of the Action19 news type headline of "PITTSBURGH'S POWER OVER CLEVELAND."  What the hell does that even mean?  At least try to be somewhat objective.  Who wants to see a headline like that on their way to an enjoyable brunch.  They go out of their way to demeen this city at any opportunity and apparently I'm not the only one that is sick of it.  And if selling papers is the goal, the last 15% of the forumers that have commented since yesterday DIDN'T buy a paper for that specific reason.  They are unprofessional, purposely vindictive, and I won't buy into it.

I read it for free online, and sometimes I even think that THAT'S too expensive.

"Pittsburgh's Power over Cleveland" - this sounds like an analysis of the Steelers domination over the Browns. Does the PD ever report the good news in the region? I can't remember the last time I saw an article pointing out the positives in the region without throwing in the usual negatives. I know we have problems, but I also know there are some good things happening in the region. I'm just tired of the "sky is falling" headlines. Almost everyday the PD prints article telling us how bad things are. Even on my optimistic days I feel a little deflated after reading the PD. To be honest, somedays I think to myself maybe the PD is right. I just want an objective paper - that's all. I'm not asking for a "feel good" paper that glosses over bad news. I know I'm not making this up. I lived in Pittsburgh, and the Post-Gazette did not have this negative. I've lived in Columbus, and the Dispatch did not have this uber-negative tone.  I'm done with the PD.

Happy holidays, knuckleheads - the next person to take this thread off-topic gets a week off.